Bloomberg reported that Iranian attacks on major cities in Gulf countries, despite raising questions about the continued expansion of Wall Street companies into the region, have nevertheless seen these companies unanimously express their support for the Middle East. The agency said that prominent names, from Brookfield Corp to Goldman Sachs Group, are competing to establish themselves as loyal partners. Following the war, the United Arab Emirates has seen many global companies arrive to open offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai as an expansion strategy into the Middle East. The agency noted that the Gulf region has long been a profitable source of financing and has seen significant growth in recent years, with foreign companies increasingly expected to invest in local economies. It also pointed out that even amidst the war, regional investors continued to pump billions of dollars into deals involving alternative asset managers, private credit, and technology platforms. The company indicated it expects to open additional offices in the region. During the interview, Gross stated that while the ongoing war is tragic in many ways, it does not change Bain Capital's long-term outlook for the future or affect its plans to enhance its investments in the region. Also counting on the Gulf region in general, and the UAE in particular, is the hedge fund MS Capital, based in Singapore, which recently announced it plans to open an office in Abu Dhabi to capitalize on growing opportunities. It is also currently in talks with other investment funds in the Middle East to explore potential investment opportunities. The fund manages approximately $1.5 billion in assets, including an initial $500 million from one of its clients in the Middle East, and recently announced it won a $1 billion investment deal in China. Expansion of Investment Gross, from Bain Capital, believes that the current situation in the Gulf region further highlights the economic importance of the area and could, in fact, lead to more investment in certain sectors like defense-related initiatives and government ventures, which could extend into the private sector. Bloomberg said some investors believe that the UAE's infrastructure and governance will help it recover, citing a 5% annual increase in registrations at the Abu Dhabi Global Market in March, reaching 284 registrations, along with over 100 applications under review. Meanwhile, Blackstone announced two investment deals since Iran began its attacks on Middle Eastern centers on February 28. The agency also relayed warnings from observers worldwide that withdrawing from the region now might impact companies' ability to form future partnerships. Arrival of Global Companies The agency interviewed David Gross, a managing partner at Bain Capital, coinciding with the company's opening of a new office in Abu Dhabi as an expansion strategy into the Middle East, making it one of the first major global financial firms to open new regional branches since the war began. David Gross, managing partner at Bain, told the agency that the company will first start with five to ten employees at the Abu Dhabi Global Market, with the possibility of increasing this number later.
